The Kansas City Blues was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Kansas City, Missouri between 1885 and 1901. The Kansas City minor league teams played as members of the Class A level Western League in 1885, 1887, 1892, and from 1894 to 1899, and the Western Association in 1888, 1890, 1891, and 1893. The Blues transitioned to the American League in 1900, a year before the league became a major league. In 1901, the Blues franchise relocated to become the Washington Senators, which eventually evolved into today's Minnesota Twins. Meanwhile, a minor league Kansas City Blues franchise was reformed and the team rejoined the eight-team 1901 Western League. The minor league team played under the "Cowboys" moniker in 1885, 1887 and 1894. The Kansas City Blues/Cowboys played home games at Exposition Park.
Returning to Western League play in 1901, the Blues preceded the Kansas City Blues franchise, who began play in the 1902 American Association. The 1902 Kansas City Blue Stockings were a new franchise who replaced the Blues as members of the Western League.
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